In this heartfelt and powerful talk, Maitha Al Hameli — marine conservationist and sustainability advocate — reflects on how protecting nature is not just an environmental mission, but an act of cultural preservation.From childhood days fishing with her father and uncle to leading marine conservation initiatives across Abu Dhabi, Maitha shares a deeply personal journey that connects heritage, science, and hope. She warns of shifting baseline syndrome — the quiet danger of forgetting what abundance once looked like — and urges us to act before our lowered expectations become the new normal.Yet her message is not one of despair, but of resilience. Abu Dhabi’s corals, reefs, and mangroves are surviving in conditions that defeat ecosystems elsewhere. They are living proof that nature, when respected and restored, can recover.Her call is simple but profound: the sea built us — now it needs us.Key ideas:- The cultural roots of environmental stewardship in the UAE - Understanding shifting baselines and the danger of forgetting - Abu Dhabi as a model of resilience in climate adaptation - Restoration science: rebuilding nature with knowledge, not guesswork - Balancing progress and preservation: plan around habitats, not over themRecorded live at TEDxAlBateen 2025 — themed “Threads of Us,” celebrating the connections between nature, culture, and the shared responsibility that binds generations together.#TEDxAlBateen #MaithaAlHameli #ThreadsOfUs #Environment #Conservation #UAE #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Heritage #MarineLife For more than 16 years, Al Hameli has been dedicated to marine conservation in the UAE. At Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, she led habitat restoration, wildlife rescue, biodiversity surveys, and the development of conservation management plans. Her projects include the UAE’s first systematic dolphin and seagrass surveys, as well as a community-driven turtle release program.Al Hameli collaborates with scientists worldwide to protect dugongs as a member of the IUCN Dugong Technical Group, and to advance coral and seagrass restoration. With business and technology partners, she has tested drone-based mangrove seeding and helped establish one of the region’s most resilient coral nurseries in the Gulf’s warm waters.Her work focuses on practical solutions that align climate action with economic development. She partners with the private sector to pilot innovative methods such as seagrass propagation, ensuring that conservation is not only ecological but also sustainable and scalable. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx